Matrimonial Event

"One of the most remarkable and sensational
matrimonial events in the history of Omaha occurred about five
o'clock yesterday afternoon at the office of Justice Hart,"
said the Omaha Republican on March 15, 1890. "The
contracting parties were John Hendricks, one of the well known
and wealthy Hendricks brothers who are prominent cattle dealers
of Deadwood, South Dak., and Miss Bertie Caylor, better known
as Bertie Mann, who is the acknowledged queen of Omaha's demi-monde."

According to the Republican, bride
and groom had grown up in the same region of Kentucky some forty
years before and "from the germs of childhood's friendship
developed a case of genuine true love. The young couple were
desirous of uniting their hands and hearts in marriage, but the
match was prevented by the stringent opposition of the parents
of both. . . . Hendricks and his brother left with their parents
for the west, locating near Deadwood, where the parents soon
after died.

"Life without her lover became day
by day, more irksome to Bertie, and finally seemed unbearable,
when she renounced home and friends and came west to pursue a
life of ease and pleasure, leaving the sinfulness thereof closely
hidden in the background of her imagination. While pursuing this
avocation of shameful enjoyment she chanced to locate after a
time in Deadwood, where she met her first love. The meeting was
a shock to both, but the old affection was renewed and when the
girl promised to renounce her course of sin, the wedding was
again prevented, this time by the strong and bitter protest of
Hendricks' brother and sister.

"Rendered more reckless by this second
disappointment, Bertie left Deadwood and came to Omaha, where,
being a good financier, she was soon able to reap sufficient
from her lustful labors to embark in business as the proprietress
of a first-class demi-monde establishment, which she has ever
since maintained. She came to Omaha just seven years ago, and
has never seen or heard of her affianced until night before last."

Hendricks, while in Omaha with a consignment
of cattle enroute to Chicago, learned that Bertie was in the
city. He was at once "surprised and shocked, but was nevertheless
delighted" and went to her "famous resort on North
Ninth street as soon as possible. The meeting was such a one
as would be expected under the circumstances. The long separated
lovers again met yesterday and went out for a drive. Hendricks
drove the carriage to the office of Justice Hart, where everything
had previously been arranged by him, and, after showing her the
papers in which he had deeded to her half of all his real and
personal property and effects, . . . proposed that they be married.
Of course the surprise was a shock to the Fair Bertie, but she
nevertheless gracefully acquiesced and the ceremony was performed
by the justice." An evening reception at the home of the
bride followed, and the pair left the next day for Chicago, "where
the groom will dispose of the stock, after which they will return
to Deadwood, to take up their residence on the ranch."